Improvement in fire-proof buildings



Patented May 27,1873.

I E.- MU LE0 no. Fire-Proof Building.

AM PHOTO-.LITHDGRAHIIC 00. NM (amaze/v53 PROCESSD WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE; 1

JOHN E. MULFORD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y'.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-PROOF BUILDINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,415. dated May 27, 1873 application filed February 25, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. MULFORD, of

the city, county and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Applying Fire-Proof Material to Buildings and other Structures, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to the application of fire-proof or fire-resisting material to metallic and other structures, such for example as doors, shutters, buildings, partition-walls, beams and girders, iron safes, bank-vaults, steam-vessels, boilers, pipes, &c.; and it consists in means employed to secure the fire-proof material, protect it from injury, and prevent its detachment in use or under violence incident to a fire.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section, which may represent a portion of a fire-proof door or shutter, or of the wall of a building or vault or other structure illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same with parts of the fire-proof material and metal work omitted. Fig. 3 is a vertical section representing adjacent parts of a wall and Mansard roof, and illustrating the application of the invention to this class of structures. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of a girder illustrating the application of the invention to this class of structures. Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of one of the anchoringdevices hereinafter described.

A A represent parts of a frame-work of angle-iron, or bars of other suitable form. B B are plates of metal riveted or otherwise secured to the frame A, and constituting the back of the structure. Riveted in these rear plates, and projecting toward the front, are studs 0 of mushroom or T form, or any analogous or equivalent shape which will adapt them for the purpose intended, namely, to anchor, and secure the fire-proof material as hereinafterexplained. I prefer to form these studs with stems c, and heads or flanges c of circular, square, or other form projecting all around the said stems, and parallel or nearly so with the back plates B. When these heads are made of large size they are perforated as shown at c in Fig. 5. D D are webs of wirecloth or netting attached at their edges to the frame A, and fastened also to the heads of the support the plastic fire-proof material. Some of the cells are formed with bottom plates J, which, with bolts or rivets K, form the means of attaching the entire cellular frame or casing to the plates B, if these are used; but for many structures the attachment of the ends of the bars I to frames A will suflice, and the plates B may be entirely dispensed with. In either case the structure of the cellular frame-work is sufliciently yielding to accomodate itself to inequalities in expansion and contraction under changes of temperature.

The foregoing description refers chiefly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, but it will be seen to apply in its leading principles to the illustrations given in Figs. 3 and 4.

The Mansard roof shown in Fig. 3 may be made entirely of non-combustible material. E may represent lath in g or sheeting of metal applied on a metallic frame, F, and affording attachment for flanged studs 0 as before described, and the reticulated webbing D may then be applied as on the walls, doors, or shutters. I

In the beam or girder shown in Fig. 4, the flanged studs 0 may project on both sides of the central web, nearly flush with the flanges or heads of the beam. The reticulated web' bing or net-work is not required in these structures of comparatively small area.

In all illustrationsG represents the fireproof matter, which consists of asbestus mingled preferably with calcined gypsum or similar material, and united by the aid of lime-putty, or other suitable cement. This compound is applied in a plastic state after the manner of plaster, completely filling the cells or cavities prepared for it, and projecting beyond the metallic fastening appliances 0 D, so as to completely coat and cover the metal, and effectually protect it from fire. This fire-resisting material, when hardened by atmospheric exposure, possesses a hard and durable surface adapted to be painted and I I in ornamental forms. I It shrinks but little in V drying, is not liable to crack, and when hard still possesses sufficient elasticity to adapt it to accommodate itself to the expansion and contraction of the metallic frame-work under changes of temperature.

The composition above described is Well adapted for plastering of all kinds on lathing of any description, and is not limited in its application to metallic frame-works. It is also applicable to the walls of Vaults and buildings v to render them fire-proof.

The following is claimed as new 1. The fire-proof or fire-resisting composition herein described, adapted for application Witnesses Oomvms KNIGHT, WALTER ALLEN. 

